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Trailer Gain Settings

ShamrockShooter

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ShamrockShooter Senior Enthusiast

ShamrockShooter

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Need to get the new truck trailer Gain setup to my 3500 lb travel trailer. I see the procedure in the manual to test and set the trailer Gain. I know every setup is different, but just curious what trailer Gain Settings is everyone using?

 

My only experience is aftermarket brake controllers so this is a first for the integrated controller.

 

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swathdiver Senior Enthusiast

swathdiver

Posted
Posted

I set by getting the trailer brakes to lock up when stopping and then back it off a hair till they don't.  Knock it up a few notches when loaded and back down when empty.  Mine was set in the 6X range while towing a utility trailer that was about 2200 empty and 4000-5000 when loaded.  Numbers aren't relative as you have to consider the stopping power of the item being towed.

Bikeman Enthusiast

Bikeman

Posted
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5.5 on mine, 8k TT. You will love the intergrated brake controller, it uses several sensors to determine how much brake to apply to the trailer brakes. Very smooth.

ShamrockShooter Senior Enthusiast

ShamrockShooter

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Thanks. I messed with mine a little when taking the trailer in to get the tpms sensors installed, but I think I was only at 2.0 and it didn't seem to be doing much. The truck and trailer were empty though so I didn't bother fiddling with it. I'm going to have to get it dialed in on my subdivision side streets when we leave for camping with the entire house and the kitchen sink packed in my truck and TT.

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sk Senior Enthusiast

sk

Posted
Posted

You need to adjust it EVERY time you pull a trailer, even if it's the same trailer you pulled before.  As weights, brake drums, humidity, etc. change the trailer will react differently.  And of course each trailer will be different (the saved presets are only to get you close).  Adjusting is easy:

  1. Find a safe section of driveway, road, or parking lot.
  2. Drive around 15 mph and add gain until the trailer wheel brakes lock up.
  3. Remove 1 step of gain (usually -0.5 on the GM integrated controllers).

That's about all there is to it.

swathdiver Senior Enthusiast

swathdiver

Posted
Posted
On 6/26/2019 at 2:55 PM, sk said:

That's about all there is to it.

And don't do what I did the first time, using the 4-pin adapter instead of the seven!  Four is just for lights, no brakes or power!  LOL

L86 All Terrain Senior Enthusiast

L86 All Terrain

Posted
Posted

Just see what feels nice. I get rolling about 35mph and touch the brake pedal very light (so that I am not really activating the trucks brakes, but just enough to trigger the trailer brakes) to see if I can feel the trailer brakes starting to bite firm, but not excessive, and begin slowing the truck/trailer. It usually works out well when you slow from highway speeds. Typically you can put a lot more brake on that I do, but I don't want to change trailer brakes once a year. With a 3500lb trailer, trailer brakes are not even necessary when towing with a 1/2 ton truck but will be a safer option, probably no more than 3.5-4 on your controller for that particular trailer. I run my 2500 around 5.0 up to 10,000lbs, but heavier truck needs less help with braking. Do what feels right and that wont lock up your tires. 

sk Senior Enthusiast

sk

Posted
Posted
On 6/28/2019 at 12:29 PM, L86 All Terrain said:

With a 3500lb trailer, trailer brakes are not even necessary when towing with a 1/2 ton truck

It doesn't depend on your truck -- there are state trailer laws that determine if you need brakes.  For example here in PA any trailer 3500lb or greater is required to have brakes and must be inspected every year.

L86 All Terrain Senior Enthusiast

L86 All Terrain

Posted
Posted
On 2019-07-01 at 1:59 PM, sk said:

It doesn't depend on your truck -- there are state trailer laws that determine if you need brakes.  For example here in PA any trailer 3500lb or greater is required to have brakes and must be inspected every year.

Interesting. They don't even look at people here without a commercial sticker. You are supposed to have one if you are registered to gross over 5000kg, but most people don't bother and just register the minimum. Here we have retirees with cataracts sell their Honda Civic and buy a 3500 dually and 40' travel trailer and hit the roads with zero knowledge or experience. It can be scary and frustrating. 3500lbs is really nothing for a half ton though and I would not fear pulling a load lighter than the tow vehicle without electric brakes. 

ShamrockShooter Senior Enthusiast

ShamrockShooter

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I ended up at 6.5 fully loaded. Tweaked it a bit over 600 miles but settled on 6.5.

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